Bank-protecting device



LBSSJS May 1925,

J.WLJHNSTN BANK PROTEGTING DEVICE Filed OCT.1 17, 1925 iNvENTQR VV dolumsvf B; gam

ATTORN EY Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED srarss TENT FFICE.

JOHN W. JOHNSTON, 0F STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

BANKPROTECTING DEVICE.

Application led October 17, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for protecting counter Workers in banks and other mercantile houses having similar window arrangements from danger, and the money or other valuables in their charge from being stolen, by men holding up the employees behind the windows as is frequently done even in large cities.

The principal object of my invention is to provide such protection by means ot bullet proof plates for the window, normally clear of the same, but arranged to be moved to instantly cover the windows in time ot' need.

This operation is carried out by a single simple. movement of one toot of the worker behind the window, without said worker otherwise moving from his station, so that the burglar will not notice any movement which would arouse his suspicions and cause him to possibly iire at the worker.

Another object of my invention is to provide operating means tor the plates so arranged that any worker at his option may cause only the one plate to be moved to cover his window, Ior he may cause all the plates ot the other windows to be similarly moved to their window covering positions.

In this manner all the workers behind the counter can at al1 times protect each other in case of need by being able to instantly cause rigid barriers to cover all the windows.

The plates are arranged to move to their closed positions so quickly that any burglar will not have time to take any action to prevent such movement of the plates and he will thus be rendered harmless for the time being.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly eitective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following speciiication and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reterence indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. l is a perspective outline of a typical bank counter and window arrangement,

Serial No. 63,018.

showing my protecting plate structure installed in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a fragment-ary elevation partly in section of a plate and its cooperating parts.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a double pedal control mechanism for the plates.

F ig. l is a cross section through the counter and plate structure, showing a lever attachment for lowering the same.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified arrangement of a plate with respect to its window.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral l denotes a. wall or partition from which the usual counter 2 projects both in wardly and outwardly a certain distance, the counter being a normal distance from the floor. Longitudinally spaced windows 3 are cut through the partition above the counter. This arrangement in one form or another is found in all banks and similar houses and of course forms no part of my invention.

In the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 1 to- 3, the window protecting device comprises substantial metal plates 4l, one for each window, and of dimensions not less than the area ot the window.

For each plate I provide channel shaped grooves 5 projecting upwardly along the sides of the window, the plate having rollers 6 to engage the bottoms ot the guides to promote ease ot movement 01"' the plate. These guides only extend from the counter upwardly.

Below the counter inwardly ot the wall l and transversely alined with the guides are tubular members such as pipes 7, supported on the floor and having longitudinal slots 8 in their adjacent faces. The lower edges ot the plates project into the pipes through the slots 8 and have rollers 9 to engage the sides of the pipes opposite the slots.

Between the bottom of the pipes and the lower edges ot the plate, substantial compression springs 10 are mounted in the pipes. The springs arel so designed that while capable of being compressed into a fairly com- 100 pact space they have sufficient strength or flexibility to enable them to quickly raise the plate the full height of the window. The top of the plate when not in use lies flush with the top of the counter and the springs are then compressed. `When the springs are free to act the plate is raised so that its top engages the top of the window and the lower end of the plate is then preferably a slight distance below the under side of the counter.

It is to be understood that while I show two pipes for each plate with a corresponding number of springs, as many springs may be used as may be found necessary to give the desired results, which are the raising of the plate a predetermined distance and very quickly.

The pipes not only serve as plate guides but spring retainers as well, preventing the springs from possibly buckling when being compressed. They also conceal the springs from view at all times and present a neat appearance. While I have specified compression springs as being preferably used it will be obvious that by a reversal of arrange-l ment of certain parts, tension springs may be used instead.

The bottom of each plate is formed with a centrally disposed lip 11 engaged when the plate is lowered by a catch 12 of suitable form.

This catch is provided with an arm 13 which intermediate its ends has a hub la which is turnable on a shaft 15, said shaft extending horizontally along the inner faces of all the pipes of the different windows. The lower end of each arm 13 has a horizontal extension 16 provided; with a foot pad 17 at its outer end. The members 16 .and 17 therefore form a pedal. Depression of the pedal therefore causes the catch to be released from the lip, allowing the springs of the corresponding plate to function and raise the plate as previously described.

A. spring 18 under the extension 16 acts to maintain the catch engaged with the lip. Since there is a catch arm for each plate and all the arms turn on the common shaft 15, it will be evident that the depression of any one pedal and the consequent raising of the plate, will not in any way affect the other plates.

To enable a worker at any one window to release all the catches simultaneously, I provide the following mechanism:

Close to each arm 13 is another arm 19 fixed on the shaft 15 and having a foot pad 2O on its outer end, preferably in longitudinal alinement with the pad 17. The arms 19 and pad 2() therefore form a pedal independent of the one previously described.

Also fixed on the shaft adjacent each hub 14 is a collar 21. This collar and hub have cooperating and normally engaged offset faces 22 (see Fig. 3), so arranged that when the pedal is depressed the offset face on the hub moves away from the corresponding face on the collar 21, and hence does not move said collar or the shaft.

Zhen any pad 20 is depressed however all the hubs 14 are rotated, since the engagement of the faces 22 is maintained. All the catches 12 will be therefore released from the corresponding plate lips l1 as will be evident. This of course allows all the plates to rise simultaneously.

If the springs are notL too strong any plate may be lowered to its catch engaging position by first pulling on the lip by hand and then pressing down on top of the plate. In the event that a heavy plate and correspondingly strong springs are used, I may employ a lever arrangement to lower the plate as shown in Fig. 4. This arrangement comprises a lever arm 28 pivoted at its inner end on the under face of the counter. The plate is provided with a vertical and upwardly facing row of ratchet-tooth notches 24: in transverse alineinent with the lever. At the pivoted end of the lever is mounted a pawl 25 which projects downwardly to constantly engage a notch when said lever is lowered a certain distance from its normal or inoperative position. Also mounted on this lever beyond said pawl is another spring pressed pawl 26 which engages a notch lower than that being enga-ged by the pawl 25. It will therefore be seen that if the lever is depressed the plate will be lowered a certain distance. If then the lever is raised to take a fresh hold the plate will not slip up, since the pawl 25 remains en gaged with a tooth notch during this raising movement of the lever. A number of reciprocating movements of the lever will then enable the plate to be quickly lowered to a neutral position, or so as to engage with the catch 12, with a minimum of physical exertion being necessary to do so.

If found desirable in connection with certain window installations I may mount a plate 1L above each window 3a as shown in Fig. 5. In this case the spring retaining pipes 7'a are above the window while the guides 5a retain their original positions.

When the plate is released the springs press down on the plate instead of up, and the movement of the plate being of course aided by its own weight, the lowering of the plate will be extremely rapid.

In the event that it is necessary to protect the worker from exposure beyond the sides of the window, as when the wall 1 above the counter is of open or grille-work, the plates may be extended in width, or additional plates added, to also cover such openwork.

It is to be understood that the term winf dow in the claims is intended to denote not only the Window proper, but the openings in any grille or openwork which may be disposed at the sides of the Windows as Well.

From the foregoing description it Will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

llhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination With a plurality of Windows, a movable member to cover each Window, the different members being independent of each other, means acting on each member individually for moving the same to a Window covering position, individual and releasable catch means for each member for holding the same clear of the Window and preventing the first named means from functioning, and means independent of said individual catch means for enabling all the members to be released simultaneously.

2. In Combination With a plurality of Windows, a movable member to cover each Window, the different members being independent of each other, means acting on each member individually for moving the same to a Window covering position, individual and releasable catch means for each member for holding the same clear of the Window and preventing the first named means from functioning, and means independent of said individual catch means but cooperating therewith for enabling all said catch means to be released simultaneously.

3. In combination with a plurality of Windows, a movable member to cover each Window, the different members being independent of each other, means acting on each member individually for moving the same to a window covering position, individual and releasable catch means for each member for holding the same clear of the Window and preventing the first named means from functioning, a pedal for each catch, an independent pedal disposed adjacent each first named pedal, and means whereby actuation of any one of the last named pedals will cause all said catch means to be released simultaneously.

4. A structure as in claim 2, in Which said last named means comprises arm members provided with said catch means, a common shaft on which all said arms are turnable, a foot actuated arm fixed on the shaft, and means between sai-d shaft and the individual catch-arms for causing the latter to turn when said shaft is rotated in one direction by the actuation of the fixed arm.

5. A structure as in claim 2, in Which said last named means comprises arm members provided With said catch means, hubs provided With said arm members, a common shaft on Which all said hubs are turnable, a foot actuated arm fixed on the shaft, a collar fixed on the shaft for and adjacent each shaft, and cooperating offset faces on the hubs and collars normally engaging each other and arranged to maintain such engagement when the shaft is rotated in one direction by actuation of the fixed arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN W. JOHNSTON. 

